La Da: Brocade-weaving village on the brink of oblivion

An elderly K’Thi Quynh, and a 54-year-old Thong Thi Beo are among few artisans still pursuing brocade weaving in Ham Thuan Bac district.

For the Cham people, brocade weaving is only a part-time job that brings high income to the Cham families and replace jobs for villagers besides decisive farming career.  Brocade weaving is not only a tradition of the Cham community, but also a valuable cultural entity.

The images of looms, carpets, clothing woven from brocade are no longer seen in daily life and festivals of the Cham and K’hor people in Ham Thuan Bac district due to impacts of market economy.

In 2005, The people’s committee of Binh Thuan province issued decision on recognition of La Da brocade weaving village with a new construction with the same name, covering an area of 7,700 square meters and an investment cost totaling VND 2 billion. The issuance shed light to preserve the craft tradition, contributing to promoting the Ham Thuan – Da Mi tourism and solving jobs and incomes for the locals. The values of the traditional culture would also be kept. At that time, the newly-issued preferential treatment made the residences of La Da and the K’hor ethnic feel happy as the outlying area of La Da had the hope to change its face then. Many indigenous started registering for training course of brocade weaving. However, the craft village is no longer put into operation even though the construction has been fully completed. The craft village is now dissolved due to many reasons and the brocade weaving is on the brink of oblivion.

Until July 2017, the provincial People’s committee promulgated other decision on converting the craft village’s function and assigning the management task to the People’s committee of La Da commune.

Preserving the values of traditional culture of the ethnic minorities is an evitable task nowadays. Many provinces/cities across the country are putting efforts to preserve the traditional craft coupled with tourism development.

It is recommended that functional authorities at all levels should pay more attention to pave the way for the development of brocade weaving craft, an extraordinary culture of the Cham and K’hor ethnics, so that it can avoid the loss of oblivion

 L.N (translated by My Thien)